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closeNASCAR puts Busch, Edwards on probation for the next 6 races
DAVID POOLE
The Charlotte Observer
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards are on probation for the next six Sprint Cup Series races as a result of their on-track incident after Saturday's Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
NASCAR announced the penalty midday Wednesday. The probations begin with this weekend's event at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif.
Edwards won at Bristol after executing a "bump-and-run" pass of Busch on Lap 470. Following the checkered flag, Busch banged into the side of Edwards' car. Edwards turned into the rear quarterpanel of Busch's car, spinning it around.
Busch was unrepentant after the race, saying, "We'll go on and we'll race him that way in the Chase if that's the way he wants to race."
Edwards wasn't backing down, either.
"A real smart racer explained it to me this way after he wrecked me and I was real mad. He said, 'I just had to look at your rear bumper and decide if you would do this to me, and you had, and so it was a real simple decision,'" Edwards said. "I'd do it again."
Both drivers were later summoned by NASCAR to explain their actions.
Busch, who drives for Joe Gibbs Racing, has been the most dominant driver this season, winning eight times and building a lead of 212 points over runner-up Edwards in the Cup standings with two races remaining before the start of the 10-race Chase. But Edwards, who now has six wins, has come on strong in recent weeks, winning two in a row and three of the last four races.
The points race would have been even closer if not for a penalty Edwards received for racing without a cover on his oil tank after winning at Las Vegas. He was docked 100 points and NASCAR also took away the 10 bonus points for the win that would have transferred to the Chase.
Once the 12-man lineup for the Chase is set, their point totals will be reset to 5,000 and they will then be seeded by victories. If the Chase began this week, Busch would be on top with a 30-point lead over Edwards.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.